GHAZIPORE. 
73 
ments, decorated her glossy hair with a flower of the 
water-lily. Throughout the sultry day we passed our 
time under the thick and fragrant shade of the drooping 
bamboos, my mother and the beautiful Lall Radha 
being employed with their favourite operation of spin- 
ning. Lively and full of hope, Lall Radha continued 
to pursue her task, her quick eye glancing continually 
in all directions, but still without unseemly fear or 
doubt. Even as the sun declined towards the west, no 
change was visible, except that, perhaps, her spirit rose 
anew, and the blush of health upon her cheek deepened 
its colour. Suddenly a long and piercing shriek rung 
through the air, re-echoed back by the surrounding 
woods; and lo ! a ghastly and emaciated being, more 
resembling the grim phantoms of the dead than any- 
thing of human life, lay prostrate on the earth before 
the terrified Lall Radha, kissing her feet, and grasping 
her knees with the cold and heavy grip of exhausted 
strength. It was the pilgrim Bhagut, who, with a last 
effort of his fainting energies, had dragged himself 
through the boughs of bamboo, and cast himself at the 
feet of his adored wife, the cruel privations of his pil- 
grimage fully remunerated by seeing his beloved one 
restored to health and all her youthful beauty, whom 
he had despaired of ever meeting more in this life. 
“ All that the kindest care and attention of a fond 
wife and devoted relations could do for the nourishment 
of the emaciated and enfeebled Bhagut was tenderly 
bestowed upon him ; but alas ! his condition was sad 
H 
